More than two days after an abandoned fishing boat got stuck bobbing in the Pacific Ocean, U.S. Coast Guard crews were able to drag the Paloma closer to San Francisco's shores Wednesday and safely remove two fuel tanks carrying 35 gallons of diesel fuel.Timothy Lybrand, 51, of Santa Cruz, was the sole person on the Paloma when it apparently hit some rocks near Ocean Beach.Lybrand called a friend on another ship to say he was swimming the 25 yards to shore, according to the Coast Guard. When rescue crews couldn't find Lybrand after searching for him through Monday morning, they originally thought he might have died in the cold ocean waters.But on Tuesday, information was revealed indicating Lybrand may be hiding.David Parker, of Parker Diving Service, which was contracted to help bring the vessel out, said investigators suspect Lybrand may have used a life boat to get to shore and "hot-footed it out of there."According to Santa Clara County jail and court records, there is a $75,000 warrant out for Lybrand's arrest. He failed to appear for a diversion program in 2012 following a 2010 drug possession arrest.Lybrand's last address on record was a house on Escalona Drive in Santa Cruz. A woman who answered the phone at the house on Tuesday and was asked by a reporter if Lybrand still lived there.She answered, "No, but it's so weird you're asking because the police were here last night looking for him. They were all very serious."Larry Collins, president of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association, said Tuesday that Lybrand has been fishing for more than 30 years."We're all worried. We care about him. He's a fine guy, a real good fisherman," Collins said. "We hope he ran ashore. We'd like to know if he made it."Lybrand also had other boating mishaps, as well.In September 1995, Lybrand's 44-foot steel-hulled fishing boat, Bono, racing for shore because the deckhand's wife had gone into labor, missed the Santa Cruz harbor entrance by 300 yards and plowed onto Twin Lakes State Beach.In September 2011, Lybrand and a friend were rescued from Limekiln Creek in Monterey County in the early dawn after his boat snagged on rocks. Officials reported the boat had mechanical problems.The Coast Guard estimates it will cost about $20,000 for this week's cleanup costs, and another $98,000 for the National Park Service to cut up the boat and drag pieces to shore.Coast Guard Lt. Theo Vaughan said as of Wednesday morning, the boat has been pulled closer to the beach near the edge of Golden Gate Park, and that it appears there wasn't much spillage. For now, Vaugh said it's up to the National Park Service, to fully remove the vessel Lybrand was steering as it's been pulled to the high tide line. The removal process is expected to last until Friday with crews breaking the vessel into small pieces that are carted into a dump truck at the beach parking lot. The public is urged to stay away until then.Lybrand also has a criminal record in Santa Cruz County. In December 2001 and May 2006, he was convicted of felony evading a peace officer, according to court records. A DUI charge was dismissed in the 2001 case. Also in 1996, Lybrand was convicted of felony drug possession, according to court records.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (NBC Bay Area and AP) —

More than two days after an abandoned fishing boat got stuck bobbing in the Pacific Ocean, U.S. Coast Guard crews were able to drag the Paloma closer to San Francisco's shores Wednesday and safely remove two fuel tanks carrying 35 gallons of diesel fuel.

Timothy Lybrand, 51, of Santa Cruz, was the sole person on the Paloma when it apparently hit some rocks near Ocean Beach.

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Lybrand called a friend on another ship to say he was swimming the 25 yards to shore, according to the Coast Guard. When rescue crews couldn't find Lybrand after searching for him through Monday morning, they originally thought he might have died in the cold ocean waters.

But on Tuesday, information was revealed indicating Lybrand may be hiding.

David Parker, of Parker Diving Service, which was contracted to help bring the vessel out, said investigators suspect Lybrand may have used a life boat to get to shore and "hot-footed it out of there."

According to Santa Clara County jail and court records, there is a $75,000 warrant out for Lybrand's arrest. He failed to appear for a diversion program in 2012 following a 2010 drug possession arrest.

Lybrand's last address on record was a house on Escalona Drive in Santa Cruz. A woman who answered the phone at the house on Tuesday and was asked by a reporter if Lybrand still lived there.

She answered, "No, but it's so weird you're asking because the police were here last night looking for him. They were all very serious."

Larry Collins, president of the San Francisco Community Fishing Association, said Tuesday that Lybrand has been fishing for more than 30 years.

"We're all worried. We care about him. He's a fine guy, a real good fisherman," Collins said. "We hope he ran ashore. We'd like to know if he made it."

Lybrand also had other boating mishaps, as well.

In September 1995, Lybrand's 44-foot steel-hulled fishing boat, Bono, racing for shore because the deckhand's wife had gone into labor, missed the Santa Cruz harbor entrance by 300 yards and plowed onto Twin Lakes State Beach.

In September 2011, Lybrand and a friend were rescued from Limekiln Creek in Monterey County in the early dawn after his boat snagged on rocks. Officials reported the boat had mechanical problems.

The Coast Guard estimates it will cost about $20,000 for this week's cleanup costs, and another $98,000 for the National Park Service to cut up the boat and drag pieces to shore.

Coast Guard Lt. Theo Vaughan said as of Wednesday morning, the boat has been pulled closer to the beach near the edge of Golden Gate Park, and that it appears there wasn't much spillage. For now, Vaugh said it's up to the National Park Service, to fully remove the vessel Lybrand was steering as it's been pulled to the high tide line. The removal process is expected to last until Friday with crews breaking the vessel into small pieces that are carted into a dump truck at the beach parking lot. The public is urged to stay away until then.

Lybrand also has a criminal record in Santa Cruz County. In December 2001 and May 2006, he was convicted of felony evading a peace officer, according to court records. A DUI charge was dismissed in the 2001 case. Also in 1996, Lybrand was convicted of felony drug possession, according to court records.